During the Tillamook County Fair, the upstairs of the Main Building is transformed into a gallery. Art-filled walls and displayed crafts and hobbies highlight the talents of local county residents.
Incoming Tillamook Junior High School seventh grader Clayton Oleman is one of the youth exhibitors in the art and hobby departments. He entered several Lego creations as well an abstract, spray-painted piece of the “universe.” But don’t confuse age for inexperience, Oleman is an award-winning artist
“I started doing art in kindergarten,” Oleman said. “I would draw a little bit of everything. I would see something and would draw and doodle. When I was little, it was hard to do details. Now, I do a lot in comic style.”
In February, Oleman entered his painting of a mountain with a lake to the Adventist Health “Art for the Heart Art” Gallery Show. He titled his piece: “Heart of the Forest.” It won the hearts of gallery attendees, garnering enough votes to claim the “Youth Award” of the entire show.
Oleman recalls his parents and two brothers being there when he found out that he won.
“I thought it was really great,” mom Maddison Oleman said. “He got lots of compliments on his work.”
Oleman has added another award to his art collection, earning a blue ribbon for his spray-painted piece in the youth division at the 2024 Tillamook County Fair.
Oleman is one of many youth that have showcased their artistic talents at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. The Craft and Hobby Department as well as the Art Department exhibits are located on the second floor of the Main Hall building.
“As attendees visit the Art Department, I highly encourage them to explore and experience all of the art, not just the pieces that they themselves or people they know entered,” Art Department Superintendent Leeauna Perry said. “We have a community rich in artistic talent and appreciating every individual age and experience level’s artwork adds to the cultural appreciation experience. A lot of time, effort, creativity and courage go into creating and submitting a piece of art into a public showcase such as the fair exhibit. I encourage visitors to acknowledge the work that each artist puts into these entries by fully engaging in this culturally enriching exhibit experience.”
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